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Designed by W G Carter to Specification F.9/37 calling for a twin-engined single-seater, this Gloster fighter was of all-metal stressed skin construction. It was intended to carry a fuselage-mounted armament of two 20mm Hispano cannon and four 7.7mm Browning machine guns.

Two prototypes were ordered, the first of these, powered by two 1050hp Bristol Taurus T-S(a) 14-cylinder radials, being flown on 3 April 1939. The aircraft attained a maximum speed of 579km/h at 4575m, but was badly damaged in a landing accident early in its flight test programme. When testing was resumed in April 1940, it had been re-engined with 900hp Taurus T-S(a) IIIs with the result that performance suffered, maximum attainable speed in level flight being reduced to 534km/h at 4630m. The second prototype, meanwhile, had been completed with 885hp Rolls-Royce Peregrine liquid-cooled engines, flying for the first time on 22 February 1940, and attaining a maximum speed of 531km/h during subsequent flight testing. Although the handling characteristics of Gloster's F.9/37 contender were considered highly satisfactory and performance with the original engines had proved spectacular, no production was ordered.